Method and means for joining sheet members

ABSTRACT

The means for binding a plurality of sheet members together comprises in combination a pair of elongated jaw members each having first and second ends and being pivotally joined for pivotal movement from a first position wherein the first ends are adjacent one another to a second position wherein the first ends are spaced from one another. A punch is mounted on one of the jaw members adjacent the first end thereof and a die is carried on the other jaw member in registered alignment below the punch so as to receive the punch when the jaw members are in the second position. Each of the jaw members include a finger protruding from its end. An elongated binding ring is formed in an enclosed shape and has opposite ends overlapping one another. The binding ring is yieldably deformable to a spread position wherein the opposite ends thereof are spaced from one another, and the binding ring includes apertures therein for receiving the fingers. The apertures are positioned so that the fingers spread the opposite ends of the binding ring when the fingers are moved to their first position. The method includes punching a hole through a stack of sheet members, inserting a pair of elongated fingers through the apertures in a resilient enclosed binding ring having opposite ends in overlapping relationship, moving the fingers away from one another so as to spread the opposite ends of the ring away from one another, aligning the opposite ends of the ring with the hole in the stack of sheet members, and moving the fingers toward one another so that the binding ring resumes its original configuration with the opposite ends thereof in overlapping relationship and extending through the hole in the stack of sheet members.

United States Patent [191 Cooley Oct. 9, 1973 METHOD AND'MEANS FOR JOINING SHEET MEMBERS [76] Inventor: Jerry A. Cooley, Route 1, New

Virginia. Iowa 50210 [22] Filed: July 22, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 165,032

Primary Examiner-Lawrence Charles Attorney-Zarley, McKee & Thomte [5 7] ABSTRACT The means for binding a plurality of sheet members together comprises in combination a pair of elongated jaw members each having first and second ends and being pivotally joined for pivotal movement from a first position wherein the first ends are adjacent one another to a second position wherein the first ends are spaced from one another. A punch is mounted on one of the jaw members adjacent the first end thereof and a die is carried on the other jaw member in registered alignment below the punch so as to receive the punch when the jaw members are in the second position. Each of the jaw members include a finger protruding from its end. An elongated binding ring is formed in an enclosed shape and has opposite ends overlapping one another. The binding ring is yieldably deformable to a spread position wherein the opposite ends thereof are spaced from one another, and the binding ring includes apertures therein for receiving the fingers. The apertures are positioned so that the fingers spread the opposite ends of the binding ring when the fingers are moved to their first position.

The method includes punching a hole through a stack of sheet members. inserting a pair of elongated fingers through the apertures in a resilient enclosed binding ring having opposite ends in overlapping relationship, moving the fingers away from one another so as to spread the opposite ends of the ring away from one another, aligning the opposite ends of the ring with the hole in the stack of sheet members, and moving the fingers toward one another so that the binding ring resumes its original configuration with the opposite ends thereof in overlapping relationship and extending through the hole in the stack of sheet members.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures METHOD AND MEANS FOR JOINING SHEET MEMBERS This invention relates to a method and means for joining a stack of sheet members together. A primary object of the present invention is the provision of a paper punch and binding ring which can be used in combination to join a stack of sheet members together.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a method and means for joining sheet members together which allows an operator to punch and join the sheet members together with one hand while grasping the sheet members with his free hand.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a method and means for joining sheet members together which utilizes a binding ring of flat cross section so as to minimize sideway slipping of the sheet members after they are joined together.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a method and means for joining sheet members together utilizing a tool which can be adjusted to accommodate stacks of varying thicknesses.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a method and means for joining sheet members together which includes a stop'for gauging the location of the holes punched in the paper and which permits consistent location of the holes punched separately in separate stacks of sheet members.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a method and means for joining sheet members together which permits simple unfastening of the sheet members after they have been fastened together without damaging the sheet members.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a method and means for joining sheet members together which permits the removal or addition of sheet members after the stack is fastened together.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a means for joining sheet members together which is simple in construction, easy to assemble, and economical to manufacture.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the tool for joining sheet members with a portion of the tool being shown broken way.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the stop utilized on the tool shown in FIG.'l.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the toolshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the binding ring of the present invention. 3

FIGS. 5 and 6 are side views illustrating the operation of the tool and the binding ring to join a stack of sheet members together.

Referring to the drawings, a tool 10 includes two jaw members 12 and 14. Jaw members 12 and 14 are pivotally interconnected by means of a shaft 16. Jaw member 12 includes a working portion 18 and a handle portion 20. Working portion 18 is substantially straight between shaft 16 and the distal end 22 of jaw member 12. Jaw member 14 includes a working portion 24 and a handle portion 26. Working portion 24 is different from working portion 18 of jaw member 12 in that working portion 24 forms an oblique angle between shaft 16 and distal end 26 ofjaw member 14. Both jaw member 12 and 14 are substantially U-shaped in cross section.

A spring member 30 includes a coil 32 surrounding shaft 16 and two diverging members 34, 36 which extend within the U-shaped working portions 18, 24 of jaw members 12 and 14. Diverging members 34, 36 extend outwardly through notches 38, 40, respectively, (FIG. 3) in distal ends 22, 28 of jaw members l2 and 14. Thus the ends of diverging members 34, 36 form separating fingers 42, 44 which extend outwardly from the ends ofjaw members 12 and 14. Separating fingers 42, 44 include outwardly angled tips 46, 48.

Mounted on and extending downwardly from jaw member 12 adjacent distal end 22, is a punch which is rectangular in cross section and which includes a slanted lower edge 52 (FIG. 3). Punch 50 is thickest adjacent lower edge 52 and tapers inwardly slightly towards its upper end so as to insure free movement of punch 50 within the die to be described hereinafter. Mounted on lower jaw member 14 in registered alignment below punch 50 isa die 54 having a die opening 56 therein for receiving punch 50. A drop hole 58 is formed in jaw member I4 in registered alignment below die opening 56 to permit the punched portions of the sheet members to fall outwardly from die opening 56. It will be noted that spring member 30 extends below die opening 56, and could possibly interfere with the dropping of punched paper outwardly through drop hole 58. This problem can be alleviated by including a bent portion (not shown) in spring member 30 immediately below die opening 56 so that spring member 30 will not interfere with the dropping of punched portions of paper.

Slidably mounted over jaw members 12, 14 is a paper stop 60. Paper stop 60 includes a rectangular sleeve 62 having opposite side walls 64, 66, a bottom wall 68 and an angled top wall 70 which is angled so as to conform to the angled shape of jaw member 12. Sleeve 62 embraces both jaw members 12 and 14 as can be seen in FIG. 1. Spaced upwardly from bottom wall 68 is a horizontal slide plate 72 which is rigidly fixed between side walls 64, 66 and which is adapted to slidably embrace lower jaw member 14. Extending upwardly from horizontal slide plate 72 is a vertical guide plate 74, and extending horizontally from the upper edge of guide plate 74 is a horizontal guide plate 76 which has a U-shaped 1 notch 78 therein. Lower jaw member I4 is slidably embraced between horizontal slide plate 72 and bottom wall 68 of paper stop 60 so that paper stop 60 is frictionally slidable along lower jaw member 14. Paper stop 60 provides several functions; Horizontal and vertical guide plates 76, 74 serve as a gauge for the stack of paper being punched and help position the paper accurately with respect to punch 50 and die 56. Horizontal guide plate 76 also serves to remove the paper from the punch as the punch is being withdrawn from die 54. Top wall of paper stop 60 serves to limit the upward movement ofjaw member 12 with respect to jaw member 14. This limit may be increased by sliding paper stop 60 toward shaft 16 thereby permitting the jaw members to spread further apart than if paper stop 60 is positioned adjacent the distal ends 22, 28 of jaw members 12 and 14, respectively. Side walls 64, 66 also serve to help keep jaw members 12 and 14 in vertical alignment with one another so that punch 50 will register accurately with die hole 56. Furthermore, the sliding movement of paper stop 60 permits the accurate adjustment of the distance of the hole being punched in the sheet members from the edge of the sheet members.

Referring to FIG. 4, a binding ring 80 is formed from an elongated rectangular flexible member 82 which is shaped in a circular continuous shape with its opposite ends 84, 86 in overlapping relationship. While binding ring 80 is shown to be circular in shape it can be formed into other shapes such as elliptical without detracting from the invention. Binding ring 80 may be constructed of any elastic material such as plastic, thin metal, etc. The corners of ends 84, 86 may be beveled or may be rounded off so as to minimize the scratching or tearing which they might cause when being inserted into a stack of sheet members. Adjacent each end 84, 86 are a plurality of small apertures 88. A single aperture 88 in each end 86, 86 is sufficient for the purposes of the present invention, but additional versatility in the binding ring 80 can be attained by providing a plurality of apertures 88. Directly opposite from ends 84, 86 are a pair of large apertures 90, each of which is somewhat elongated and considerably longer than apertures 88.

In order to join a stack of papers such as stack 92 shown in FIG. 6 together, the operator first grasps the stack of papers in one of his hands. The papers are inserted on top of die 54 beneath horizontal guide plate 76 and are abutted against vertical guide plate 74. Handles 20, 26 are then compressed so as to bring punch 50 downwardly through papers 92 and into die opening 56, thereby punching a hole 94 in paper 92. Because of the rectangular cross sectional configuration of punch 50, hole 94 is rectangular in cross section. As die 50 is removed upwardly, horizontal guide plate 76 removes papers 92 from punch 50. Still holding the papers in one hand, the operator next inserts fingers 42, 44 through apertures 90 and through apertures 88 of binding ring 80 as shown in FIG. 5. This insertion is done with handles 20, 24 compressed against the bias of spring member 30 so that fingers 42, 44 are moved inwardly to their closed positions. Pressure is then removed from handles 20, 26 and spring member 30 causes fingers 42, 44 to spread apart. Because of the resiliency of binding ring 80 the opposite ends 84, 86 of binding ring 80 are spread apart by the spreading of fingers 42, 44, as can be seen in FIG. 6. Ends 84, 86 are next aligned over hole 94 which has been punched in sheets 92, and handle members 20, 26 are again compressed to bring fingers 42, 44 together and to cause binding ring 80 to assume its original closed shape. When binding ring 80 is again in its closed shape fingers 42, 44 may be slipped easily out of apertures 88 and 90. Binding ring 80 will then extend through hole 94 of sheets 92 and bind sheets 92 together.

When it is desired to remove or add sheets to the stack of sheet members 92 one merely needs to squeeze the handles together so as to bring fingers 42, 44 together. The next step is to insert finger 42, 44 again into bnding ring 80 and spread ends 84, 86 apart, thereby permitting the addition or removal of sheet members from stack 92. Binding ring 80 can then be reinserted into hole 94 in the manner described above.

Different sized binding rings 80 may be used for different sizes of paper and for different thicknesses of stacks of paper. Similarly, the distance between the edge of the stack of paper and the hole being punched therein may be adjusted by sliding paper stop 60 to the desired position with respect to punch 50 and die 54. The ability of tool 10 to both punch the papers and insert binding ring permits the operator to perform the entire function with the pile of sheet members in one hand and the tool in the other. This is a distinct advantage over many of the cumbersome methods presently being used for binding sheets of paper together.

Thus it can be seen that the device accomplishes at least all of its state objectives.

1 claim:

1. Means for binding a plurality of sheet members comprising in combination;

a pair of elongated jaw members having first and second ends and being pivotally joined intermediate their lengths for pivotal movement from a first position wherein said first ends are adjacent one another to a second position wherein said first ends are spaced from one another;

a punch carried on one of said jaw members adjacent said first end thereof;

a die carried on the other of said jaw members and being in registered alignment with said punch so as to receive said punch when said jaw members are in said second position;

each of said jaw members having a finger protruding from said first end thereof;

an elongated binding ring being formed in an enclosed shape and having opposite ends overlapping one another, said binding ring being yieldably deformable to a spread position wherein said opposite ends thereof are spaced from one another; each of said fingers being in detachable retentive engagement with a portion of said binding ring whereby said fingers cause said opposite ends of said binding ring to spread when said jaw members move to said first position; and

a stop slidably mounted on said jaw members for sliding movement toward and away from said first ends of said jaw members, said stop having a sheet member engaging surface for engaging and aligning said sheet members between said punch and said die.

2. A tool according to claim 1 wherein said tool includes a stop slidably mounted on said jaw members for sliding movement toward and away from said first ends of said jaw members; said stop having a sheet member engaging surface for engaging and aligning said sheet members between said punch and said die.

3. A tool according to claim 2 wherein said sheet engaging surface includes a horizontal member and a vertical member.

4. A tool according to claim 3 wherein said stop includes a slide portion slidably mounted on one of said jaw members and a collar portion surrounding the other of said jaw members so as to limit movement of said other jaw member away from said one jaw member.

5. Means for binding a plurality of sheet members comprising in combination;

a pair of elongated jaw members each having first and second ends and being pivotally joined intermediate their lengths for pivotal movement from a first position wherein said first ends are adjacent one another to a second position wherein said first ends are spaced from one another;

a punch carried on one of said jaw members adjacent said first end thereof;

a die carried on the other of said jaw members and being in registered alignment with said punch so as to receive said punch when said jaw members are in said second position;

each of said jaw members having a finger protruding from said first end thereof;

an elongated binding ring being formed in an enclosed shape and having opposite ends overlapping one another, said binding ring being yieldably deformable to a spread position wherein said opposite ends thereof are spaced from one another; each of said fingers being in detachable retentive engagement with a portion of said binding ring whereby said fingers cause said opposite ends of said binding ring to spread when said jaw members move to said first position; and

spring means engaging said jaw members and yieldably urging said jaw members to one of said first and second positions.

6. A tool according to claim 5 wherein said spring means includes a first elongated member and a'second elongated member, said first and second elongated members forming said pair of elongated fingers.

7. Means for binding a plurality of sheet members comprising in combination;

a pair of elongated jaw members each having first and second ends and being pivotally joined intermediate their lengths for pivotal movement from a first position wherein said first ends are adjacent one another to a second position wherein said first ends are spaced from one another;

a punch carried on one of said jaw members adjacent said first end thereof;

a die carried on the other of said jaw members and being in registered alignment with said punch so as to receive said punch when said jaw members are in said second position;

each of said jaw members having a finger protruding from said first end thereof;

an elongated binding ring being formed in an enclosed shape and having opposite ends overlapping one another, said binding ring being yieldably deformable to a spread position wherein said opposite ends thereof are spaced from one another; each of said fingers being in detachable retentive engagement with a portion of said binding ring whereby said fingers cause said opposite ends of said binding ring to spread when said jaw members move to said first position,

said punch and said die having a shape which forms a hole substantially conforming to and slightly larger than the cross sectional configuration of said binding ring. 

1. Means for binding a plurality of sheet members comprising in combination; a pair of elongated jaw members each having first and second ends and being pivotally joined intermediate their lengths for pivotal movement from a first position wherein said first ends are adjacent one another to a second position wherein said first ends are spaced from one another; a punch carried on one of said jaw members adjacent said first end thereof; a die carried on the other of said jaw members and being in registered alignment with said punch so as to receive said punch when said jaw members are in said second position; each of said jaw members having a finger protruding from said first end thereof; an elongated binding ring being formed in an enclosed shape and having opposite ends overlapping one another, said binding ring being yieldably deformable to a spread position wherein said opposite ends thereof are spaced from one another; each of said fingers being in detachable retentive engagement with a portion of said binding ring whereby said fingers cause said opposite ends of said binding ring to spread when said jaw members move to said first position; and a stop slidably mounted on said jaw members for sliding movement toward and away from said first ends of said jaw members, said stop having a sheet member engaging surface for engaging and aligning said sheet members between said punch and said die.
 2. A tool according to claim 1 wherein said tool includes a stop slidably mounted on said jaw members for sliding movement toward and away from said first ends of said jaw members; said stop having a sheet member engaging surface for engaging and aligning said sheet members between said punch and said die.
 3. A tool according to claim 2 wherein said sheet engaging surface includes a horizontal member and a vertical member.
 4. A tool according to claim 3 wherein said stop includes a slide portion slidably mounted on one of said jaw members and a collar portion surrounding the other of said jaw members so as to limit movement of said other jaw member away from said one jaw member.
 5. Means for binding a plurality of sheet members comprising in combination; a pair of elongated jaw members each having first and second ends and being pivotally joined intermediate their lengths for pivotal movement from a first position wherein said first ends are adjacent one another to a second position wherein said first ends are spaced from one another; a punch carried on one of said jaw members adjacent said first end thereof; a die carried on the other of said jaw members and being in registered alignment with said punch so as to receive said punch when said jaw members are in said second position; each of said jaw members having a finger protruding from said first end thereof; an elongated binding ring being formed in an enclosed shape and having opposite ends overlapping one another, said binding ring being yieldably deformable to a spread position wherein said opposite ends thereof are spaced from one another; each of said fingers being in detachable retentive engagement with a portion of said binding ring whereby said fingers cause said opposite ends of said binding ring to spread when said jaw members move to said first position; and spring means engaging said jaw members and yieldably urging said jaw members to one of said first and second positions.
 6. A tool according to claim 5 wherein said spring means includes a first elongated member and a second elongated member, said first and second elongated members forming said pair of elongated fingers.
 7. Means for binding a plurality of sheet members comprising in combination; a pair of elongated jaw members each having first and second ends and being pivotally joined intermediate their lengths for pivotal movement from a first position wherein said first ends are adjacent one another to a second position wherein said first ends are spaced from one another; a punch carried on one of said jaw members adjacent said first end thereof; a die carried on the other of said jaw members and being in registered alignment with said punch so as to receive said punch when said jaw members are in said second position; each of said jaw members having a finger protruding from said first end thereof; an elongated binding ring being formed in an enclosed shape and having opposite ends overlapping one another, said binding ring being yieldably deformable to a spread position wherein said opposite ends thereof are spaced from one another; each of said fingers being in detachable retentive engagement with a portion of said binding ring whereby said fingers cause said opposite ends of said binding ring to spread when said jaw members move to said first position, said punch and said die having a shape which forms a hole substantially conforming to and slightly larger than the cross sectional configuration of said binding ring. 